GATE CE 2025 Set 1 — Question 38
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Geotechnical Engineering → Consolidation → One-Dimensional Consolidation
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Question
In an oedometer apparatus a specimen of fully saturated clay has been consolidated under a vertical pressure of and is at equilibrium state. Immediately on increasing the vertical pressure to , the effective stress and excess pore water pressure will be
Correct answer
(B) σ' = 100 kPa, Δ u = 50 kPa
Solution
According to Terzaghi's principle of consolidation for saturated soils:
1.Initial State: The soil is in equilibrium under a vertical pressure of . Since it is at equilibrium, the excess pore water pressure is zero. Thus, the initial effective stress .
2.Loading Increment: The vertical pressure is increased to . The increment in total stress is .
3.Immediate Response: In a fully saturated clay, immediately after the application of a load increment, the entire increment is carried by the pore water because water is much less compressible than the soil skeleton.
Therefore, the excess pore water pressure .4.Effective Stress: The effective stress remains unchanged at the instant of loading because no drainage has occurred yet.
.Thus, and .Continue learning with Success Tracker
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